Gasoline feed system



E. RJHUNTLEY.

GASOLINE FEED SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. 1920.

Patentd May 2, 1922.

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ATTORNEY E. R. HUNTLEY. GASOLINE FEED SYSTEM.

APPucmou mep um. 2o. 1920.

1,414,952, Patented May 2, 1922.

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INVENTOR.

` Ernestf RAHlIn ley BY m ATTORNEY E. R. HUNTLEY.A GAsoLlNl-I FEED sYsIE-m.

APPLICATION FILED MAH- 20, .$920.

Patented May 2, 1922.

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lllllllllll IN V EN TR. Ernest? RHunly ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST It. HUNTLEY, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH CORPORATION, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OE DELAWARE.

GASOLINE FEED SYSTEM.

Specification cf letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1922.

Application led March 20, 1920. Serial No. 367,327.

To aZZeo'tom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, EnNns'r R. HUNTLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gasoline Feed Systems. of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to liquid feed systems, and while it is capable of general application it finds a preferred specific use as a feeding means for automobile carbureters.

The so-called pressure feed system in which the entire main fuel tank was subjected to pressure by the forcing of air from a small air compressor into the top of the tank has been tried in automobile practice, and although comparatively simple and inexpensive, presented so many diHicultios and objections in actual practice that it has been generally discarded. It is the general purpose and object of my invention to produce a feed system which shall have practically all of the advantages of the ordinary pressure feed system without any of the disadvantages and objections inherent in that system.

A subsidiary object of the invention is the provision of a small receptacle fed by gravity from the main tank, the fuel in this small receptacle being put under pressure and thereby lifted to the carbureter.

Another object is the provision of means for relieving the pressure in the small tank at intervals so that iuid may flow into it from the main tank.

A further object is the provision of float ,operated means for opening a valve to permit the pressure built up by the air compressor to be dissipated at intervals so that fuel may descend byI gravity into the small tank.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an auxiliary tank above the level of the carbureter, in which tank there is located the float for thus controlling the valve, whereby the building up of excessive pressure in the feed line to the carbureter is prevented. Without this provision such excessive pressure might occur Where the engine was idling or running light and therefore taking little fuel, but driving the compressor at the usual speed.

Other objects, and objects relating to details of construction, and economies of manufacture, will appear as I proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention, which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I' is a central vertical section of a high level auxiliary tank and of a portion of the air line, in which the air vent and the float controlled valve therefor are located.

Fio'. II is a view similar to Fig. I, but showing a portion of the structure in elevation, rather than in section, and illustrating the valve open rather than in closed position.

Fig. III is a cross-sectional View taken upon the line III-III, Fig. I, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. IV is a plan view of the structure of Fig. I, a portion of the air line being broken away to more clearly illustrate the invention.

Fig. V is a bottom plan view of the same structure.

Fig. VI is a central, vertical, sectional view of the small low level tank secured in position below the large tank, a small portion of which only is illustrated.

Fig. VII is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line VII-VII, Fig. VI.

Fig. VIII is a plan view of the small low level tank.

Fig, IX is a more or less diagrammatic view showing the various elements of the invention assembled in position upon an automobile.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views.

Referring to the drawings, l0 represents a main fuel tank located at a level below that of the carbureter, vwhich is in accordance with common automobile practice. In the bottom of the tank is a threaded socket 11 which may be the socket ordinarily proi of i the ball.

vided for the drain plug. Into this socket is threaded an upwardly extending portion of the top of a small or secondary tank 12. In this top and in communication with the interior ot the main tank, a vertical cylin drical passage 137 preferably containing an inverted conical strainer 14. This passage 13 and the Whole main tank may be drained when desired by the removal of a screw plug 15. From near the bottom of the passage 13 extends a horizontal passage 16 with an upturned end, over which rests a check valve 17 adapted when closed to cut olf communication between passage 16 and a small chamber 18in which the valve moves. This motion is limited by a downwardly ex tending projection upon a threaded plug 1) which closes the top ot' chamber 18. The latter chamber is in communication at one side with a vertical passage 20 which opens into the interior of the small tank 12. Fluid entering the small tank flows through the passages just described.

The exit of the fuel from the small tank takes place .first through a short length ot pipe 21 which is mounted preferably by means of a threaded connection in the cast metal portion ot the tank top, and t-he lower end ot' which extends to a position just above the bottom ot the tank. A ball check 22 seating in the top of pipe 21 is movable in a small chamber 23 closed at its top by a threaded plug 24 which carries a depending projection for .limiting the movement Into the chamber 23 opens a passage 25 which is in communication with the bore of a pipe 26, connecting the small tank with the high level auxiliary 'tank 27.

In the bottom ot the auxiliary tank there is a perforation through which extends a threaded nipple forming part oit a casting 28. The edge of this perforation is clamped between a shoulder' on the casting 28 and one end surface of a T-joint 29 connecting the interior of the auxiliary tank with the pipe `26 and a pipe 30 leading to the carbureter 31, and also connecting the pipes 26 and 30 to each other directly. A rod 32 is threaded into the upper part ot casting 28 and extends through a central opening in the cast metal top 33 oit the auxiliary tank. A nut 34 threaded onto the upper end of the rod serves to secure the top to the bowl of the tank. The top 33 contains an 'air vent 35 covered on its lower side by a strainer 8G. The top also carries an up wardly extending threaded projection 37, upon which :is screwed a T-joint which is interposed between the two parts 39 and 40 ot the air line. The projection 37 has a central bore 41 connected at its lower end with the atmosphere by a plurality ot small openings 42. The upper end ot the projecu tion 37 around the passage 41 serves as a valve seat for a valve piece 423, which has .a

stem 44 slidably mounted in and extending through the top The end of the stem is adapted to be engaged by a lever 45 pivoted at 46 with the depending portion of the top 33. The free extremity ot the lever is biturcated, the spaced fingers thereof resting upon the top of a Heat 47 which is slidably mounted upon the rod 32, its downward motion being limited by a cross pin 48. l/Vhen the float is raised to the position illustrated in Fig. II the lever 45 is rocked Operation.

When the engine is not running, fuel will lill more or less of the small tank 12, and may even extend up for a distance into the air pipe 40, its level depending upon the pressure of the head of fluid in the main tank on the one hand, and vupon the air pressure in pipe on the other hand. This level rises gradually if there :is any leakage around the valve 43 or through the compressor 50. Now, when the engine starts pressure is built up in pipe 4l) until an liquid therein is forced into the small tan and thence up through pipe 21 into pipe 26. Thereafter the pressure is conveyed to the surface ot the liquid in tank 12 causing a flow up the pipe 21. passage 25 and pipe 26 to auxiliary tank 27 partially, and partially through pipe 30 direct to the carbureter. During this time the air pressure above check valve 17 holds that valve closed. Fluid always stands in the auxiliary tank 27 and the pipe 26, the ball check 22 preventing its fiow downward into the small low level tank. Now. when the engine starts all fuel pumped in addition to the amount immediately taken in by the carbureter flows into auxiliary tank 27 and raises the level therein until its height is suiiicient to cause the float 47 to swing lever upwardly and unseat valve 43, whereupon the air line is opened to atmosphere through ports 42, and the pressure above the fluid in small tank 12 is quickly reduced to atmospheric pressure. The pressure ot the headV of liquid in the large tank then lifts check valve 17 and fluid iiows down to lill the small tank 12. In the meantime the carbureter is drawing .more fuel from the auxiliary tank 27, with the result that the i'loat descends and permits thevalve 43 to again seat itself, whereupon pressure is again built up in the air line and small low level tank and more fuel is raised. When the valve 43 is closed the pressure of the air above its head tends to keep it tightly seated. In order to overcome this tendency of the valve to remain seated the level of fluid in the auxiliary tankQT must rise suf` iciently to store up the required amount of buoyancy in the float. Hence, when the valve does begin to rise it moves rapidly, the float at the same time rising an appreciable distance. The valve does not again close until the float has descended a corresponding distance. In actual operation the low and high levels of liquid in the auxiliary tank vary only about one-quarter of an inch, and a similar condition is true with regard to the small low level tank 12.

I am aware that the particular embodiment of my invention above described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, is susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit thereof, and therefore I desire to claim my invention broadly as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a liquid feed system, ,a main tank from which fuel is to be lifted, a secondary tank mounted below said main tank and in communication therewith, whereby fuel is supplied said secondary tank from the main tank through gravitational action, a fluid line extending upwardly from said secondary tank and means for conveying air under pressure to the top of said secondary tank.

2. In a liquid feed sytstem, a main tank from which fuel is t0 be lifted, a secondary tank mounted below said main tank and 'in communication therewith, a check valve between said tanks opening towards the secondary tank, a liuid line extending upwardly from said secondary tank, and means for feeding air under pressure to the top of said secondary tank.

3. In a liquid feed system, a main tank from which fuel is to be lifted, a secondary tank mounted below said main tank and in communication therewith, a fluid line extending upwardly from said secondary tank and means for alternately producing and relieving pressure in the top of said secondary tank.

4. In a liquid feed system, la main tank from which fuel is to be lifted, a secondary tank mounted below said main tank and in communication therewith, a check valve between said tanks opening towards the secondary tank, a fluid line extending upwardly from said secondary tank, and means for alternately producing and relieving pressure in the top of said secondary tank.

5. In a liquid feed system, a main tank from which fuel is to be lifted, a secondary tank mounted below said maintank .and in communication therewith, a check valve between said tanks opening towards the secondary tank, a fluid line extending upwardly from said secondary tank, means for conveying air under pressure to the top of said secondary tank, and automatic means for interrupting said air conveying means at intervals.

6. In a fuel feed system, a main tank, a carbureter set at a high level with relation to said tank, a secondary tank mounted below said main tank and in communication therewith,.a fuel line joining said secondary tank and carbureter, an auxiliary tank above the level of the carbureter and in communication with said fuel line, and means controlled by the level of fuel in said auxiliary tank for conveying air under pressure to the top of said secondary tank.

7. In a fuel feed system, a main tank, a high level carbureter, a secondary tank mounted below said main tank and in communication therewith, a check valve between said tanks opening towards the secondary tank, a fuel line joining said secondary tank and carbureter, an auxiliary tank above the level of the carbureter and in communication with said fuel line, a float in said ,auxiliary tank, means for conveying air under pressure to the top of said secondary tank, and means controlled by said float for relieving said pressure.

8. In a fuel feed system, a main tank, a high level carbureter, a secondary tank mounted below said main tank and in communication therewith, a check valve between said tanks and opening towards the secondary tank, a fuel line joining said secondary tank and carbureter, an auxiliary tank above the level of the carbureter and in communication with said fuel line, a float in said auxiliary tank, an air pressure line extending past said auxiliary tank to the top of said low level tank, a valve in said pressure line, and connections between said float and said last named valve for opening the latter when the "fluid in said auxiliary tank reaches a predetermined level.

9. In a fuel feed system, a main tank, a high level carbureter, a secondary tank mounted below said main tank and in communication therewith, a check valve between said tanks openings towards the secondary tank, a fuel line oining said secondary tank and carbureter, an auxiliary tank above the level of the carbureter and in communication with said fuel line, a float in said auxiliary tank, an air pressure line-extending past said auxiliary tank to the top of said secondary low level tank, a valve in said pressure line having a surface against which pressure in the line acts tending to hold the valve closed, and connections between said float and said last named valve for opening the latter when the fuel in said auxiliary tank reaches a premunication themwith, a fluid line extending determined high level. upwardly from said small tank and means 10. In a liquid feed system, a main tank, for conveying air under pressure to the 10 provided with leakage port-s whereby attop of said small tank. 5 mospheric pressure is maintained therein, In testimony whexeof,1aixmysignature.

from which fuel is to be lifted, a small tank mounted below said main tank and in com- ERNEST R. HUNTLEY. 

